Ingredient

panthenol

Other names & variants: Vitamin B5, pantothenol, pantothenic acid

What it is

A humectant precursor of vitamin B5 that pulls water into the skin and helps it stay there — commonly used to soothe irritation, support wound/barrier healing, and calm redness in sensitive-skin formulas.

How it works

It readily penetrates into the skin and mucus membranes where it quickly oxidizes to pantothenic acid, which is extremely water attracting, holding, absorbing. It also used in biosynthesis of coenzyme A which plays a role in a wide range of enzymatic reactions in cell growth